Cycling UK Forum

"How did you break into recumbents?"
You don't. They break you in and captivate you.

My wife and I started with a Hase Pino semi-recumbent tandem. She was fed up with me leaving her behind and the tandem cured that. The Pino really appealed as it's so easy to talk to each other and she's not looking at my back all the time as she would be on a conventional tandem.

Then I had a go on the front with my son as captain. That was the breakthrough point as it was a revelation not to get aching wrists and to be able to easily look at the view without having to purposely look up. On my DF the natural head position is such that normally one is looking at the ground a few metres ahead.

I then hired a Flux C500 for a week from Radeischen in Freiburg to be sure I really wanted to commit. They helped me getting started up and down the street and on a 6-7% hill nearby. I then went back a week and 250 km later, and tested a Flux S900 and a Bacchetta Giro A26. I ordered a Bacchetta but specified 24 inch wheels rather than 26 being rather short in the leg. The rigid Bacchetta seemed rather better in transferring power than the suspended Flux.

A year and 6000 recumbent km later a Hase Kettwiesel was procured for my wife. Then, jealous of her trike (and having done 5000 km on it over the winter; great fun in the snow), my car was sold (not needed any more) and an ICE Sprint was bought for me (she wanted her trike back!). The ICE is much preferred over the Bacchetta, which I'm seriously considering selling as it's hardly been used since last June.

We still ride uprights but only occasionally. We've a couple of folders for travelling, and of course the Pino.

It used to be so much simpler.....

YOu had a choice:
Linear LWB, Peer Gynt LWB, Dino (unsuspended Peer Gynt, Windcheetah, Speed Ross and the KingCyle -That was it!!!!!

I had always fancied one, and after an accident bought a second hand Linear. This was then added to in 1994 by a Trice

I then bought a Street Machine and the first Challenge Hurricane imported into the UK.

I then traded the Trice for a Catrike Expedition and added two Gekkos and a Kettwiesel to the stable.

All are used occasionally. though less so now as I am carrying a hip injury

Tangled Metal wrote:Simple question I think. Ignoring the fact you probably have upright bikes too. Assuming you started off on a standard upright bike then switched to riding recumbents, how did you switch?

Did you visit a shop to try a few out first?
Did you just order one online?
Did you try one out that was owned by someone you knew?
Did you see a cheap secondhand one and took the plunge?

Second question, how did you learn to ride one? I'm guessing if you visited a shop to try them out the retailer probably gave you some kind of lesson on riding a recumbent. When I looked at tandems the shop in Yorkshire Dales said they show all new customers how to start, stop and a few pointers on how to ride as a pair. I'm guessing recumbent specialists are like that in their approach.

Because of a back problem I could no longer mount nor ride a conventional bike, so I looked around. I could get onto a Granny trike (step through) but couldn't sit on it for long. So I looked at recumbents, I decided two wheelers wouldn't work with my back, so trikes it was to be. I couldn't find any test trikes around Leicestershire and I have never seen one anywhere in the city or county. So Internet was the next place to look and I found a very reasonably priced Trike on Missioncycles list, it looked good and I couldn't find anything negative about it, so I ordered one.

When the Trike arrived it was carefully handled by their shippers and well wrapped. It was ready to ride apart from fitting the mirrors and adjusting bars and seat for comfort. I was amazed by the ease of handling, manoeuvrability and speed, like everyone else I found uphills a bit of a slog but soon got used to it.

My brother who has been a metal fabricator all his working life and owns his own business looked it over and said it was very well made. He also made me a towball rack to carry it on the back of the car.

I have since fitted a Panda front wheel electric motor with PAS, that cured the hill climb problem.

I've had it three years now and am still as happy as when I got it, although it would be nice to find other bent riders in the area. The only thing I've seen was a disabled trike in Rothley. There must be some!

manybikes wrote:"How did you break into recumbents?"
You don't. They break you in and captivate you.

Just like horses, they have to be broken in

In Welsh a cycle is ceffyl haearn, iron horse

I bought a Kettwiesel on eBay over 10 years ago having never ridden a bent before but having been curious since I saw an Avatar 2000 on the cover of Bicycle magazine in the mid 80s and a couple of Cycling Plus reviews (yes, really) in the early 90s. And I subscribed to the excellent Encyclopedia alternative cycling catalogue when it was published in the 90s. I almost bought a Peer Gynt LWB bike in 1992 but had my head turned by a Moulton AM.

My first Kettwiesel was one of the last steel versions, it had perhaps only done 50 miles and I got it for a bargain as no-one else bid on it. It cost almost as much to ship it home to the other end of the country! I rode that very happily for a few years but the very limited gear range and one wheel drive proved to be a bit of a disadvantage round here and it was replaced by an alu framed version with triple chainset and differential. Except on really steep climbs (1:3 or so) it's an excellent hill climber and zooms up hills that my Trice QNT (a subsequent acquisition) struggles up due to wheelspin.

In parallel to this I got the two wheeled itch and built my own LWB bike, enjoyed a Pashley PDQ, and eventually graduated to a Nazca Fuego. The PDQ was remarkably light and surprisingly fast, comfortable and manoverable, but its very short wheelbase made it a trifle twitchy at times and the seat height was just an inch too high for me to feel comfortable at stopping and starting.

I started out riding bents for no reason other than curiosity and mixed up my riding with DFs, but a gradually developing neck problem has progressively sidelined the DF riding. Because I’ve entered a bent-unfriendly Sportive later this year, I’ve been trying to get in some miles on my DF Audax bike recently and really notice the neck problem and the fact that I’m staring at the tarmac half the time rather than drinking in the views in perfect comfort. I’m seriously wondering if I want to ride an upright all that way!

The entry price may seem high compared to DFs, but I have no regrets jumping in with both feet. When it’s come time to part with them, I’ve sold the machines I’ve bought for pretty close to the purchase price - limited supplies keeps the prices steady. This time of year is a good time to buy, in the spring and summer eBay prices at least become a little heated.

Okay long story
I’m 52 only started cycling upright at 46 was very unfit. Loved it set a small challenge JOGLE and completed 2013 in 11 days unsupported. That’s when I discovered my knee was a bit suspect ( I’d had a proper bike fit by the way and trained well) my back also has a few prolapsed discs which also meant I ended up with a long spell off the bike. Once settled gently gently new challenge LEJOG ( new bike fit recommended shorter cranks ) Cranks great knee ok back knackered but ride completed this time nearly 18months off ! Only gently this time (only three weeks ago) back already not happy after one short ride (okay off the bike before I did the ride)

SO I look as I’m not about to stop cycling as I love it even though I’m a very late comer. WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS LYING DOWN CYCLING ALL ABOUT? As mentioned nothing local to look at ( Portsmouth UK, London being the closest) so a couple of forums later ,two locals ,well one 5 miles the other 35 away, offering to come see try etc . VERY helpful loved the ICE Sprint/ adventure bikes. Being unfit AGAIN, I couldn’t believe how much I was blowing out of my **** !
As for learning ,the trikes are get and pedal , I think the learning is legs muscles you thought you had for upright are clearly less helpful on a recumbent, I’ve been told to expect at least 1000 miles before your leg muscles go “ oh it’s these muscles you want me to use now “. Steering especially downhill , blimey they’re quick, too quick on a turn and there’s no doubt I’d be up on two wheels! Luckily I always say in the saddle and just span my way up hills , never one for out of the saddle stuff. So I should be better up hill on a Trike than two wheels because when I’m knackered at least I shouldn’t be wobbling all over the road .
So my beautiful Canyon Ultimate upright is up for sale and a used Trike I’ve seen on the web will be soon finding a new home on the south coast. I shall blog all about it www.laidbackrider.co.uk


I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly bog brush using hovercraft full of eels

I fit, healthy and have no medical reason to get a recumbent. I still want one. It's this idea of trying something new. Didn't know I was that way inclined.

I always fancied touring with a bike since a teenager but never did it. Until I met my partner who's done a bit over the years. It still took us a few years due to young child. Then a UK tour. Next year a European tour. And this year? Well I have been looking at getting a touring bike after the 2016 UK tour when I realised my rear panniers and trailer wasn't good. Then same bike with large frame bag, lighter and more compact kit (less of it too) with no trailer was OK but not right.

So touring bike was needed, right? Nope! I'm getting a whole knew type of bike with a different riding style. A touring suitable recumbent. Two wheels at that. I just. Need to buy it, learn how to ride it and get my muscles used to it. Fortunately I always had strong leg muscles (at the gym I ran out of weights on the leg press weights machine. That worked the legs in an elevated way like recumbents. I'm hoping that'll stand me in good stead so getting my muscles used to it won't take as long. I have my doubts but guess I'll see, when I get my recumbent that is.

BTW where did you learn to get used to it? I'm looking at a wide, car free, mixed use path that is a promenade. Flat, very good surface and enough space to wobble around on without hitting ppl.

Just need to contact owner of the bike I want, go to where it's being sold from, pay the money and bring home. 5 hour round trip. Just how to get it home? Can they fit in roof top carriers? I've got a Halfords one with the bars that attach to the downtube of a DF upright. Will it work with a recumbent? If not I've got an awkward situation getting it home. Somehow I'd have to get it to a station then on the train home. Not something I'm looking forward to.

We are looking forward to reading about it

You could find a deserted car park or the like to learn

One wonders whether any of us can remember learning to ride a two-wheeler

It's just under a year since we taught our son to ride so I remember what it's like from the adult side. Less than one year and he's moved up a bike size, toured for two weeks in Europe doing most of the riding without being towed, learnt a few stunts and developed a competitive streak a mile wide so that he doesn't like being overtaken by a kid 4 years older bursting his lungs to catch and pass him. I just hope I pick it all up as quickly.

BTW do you own one B.? If not, are you just a little bit recumbent curious? Are you not tempted as well?

Re roof carrier.
They work fine... But the arms may not be long enough.
I made one fit by making longer arms(out of farm gate tubing!!).
If the front wheel is out you may get it to reach but again maybe not ideal.
For a SM the clamp has to be a big one, say alloy mountain bike tubing. Something that only just about fits 531 won't work.
Will just about fit in a medium estate car, seat down.
Or lay it flat if you have two roof mounted carriers/bars etc.

Did you see a cheap secondhand one and took the plunge?

Yup. Traded in a dawes galaxy that i couldnt ride far due to a shoulder injury. Then gave up the bent due to a kidney problem. Woe is me.

Secondhand one from yacf. I figured I changed my upright for a different one after a couple years’ riding so might as well do the same with a laidback and just buy one I can afford.
This did coincide with her birth of my twins, so I get out for a wobble about once every three months - hope to get out for a ride on it this summer, 3years after buying it.

I rode a bike as a kid.
I tried to start again after my accident with a Tiger.
But never felt safe as I couldn't work out a safe way to work the brakes.
Then I saw ICE on the internet.
Gave them a ring, can you adapt one for a one handed cyclist "yes", can I try one "yes".
2 days later I drove down to Falmouth thinking a bit 50/50 do I buy one as it's a fair bit of money.
Go one one to try in the carpark. 30 seconds later " I WANT one of these" ..........
I ordered an ICE Q the same day.
2 years and ~15k miles later I ordered my custom ICE Sprint which I've still got after 6 years and ~35k miles covered ........

Tangled Metal wrote:It's just under a year since we taught our son to ride so I remember what it's like from the adult side. Less than one year and he's moved up a bike size, toured for two weeks in Europe doing most of the riding without being towed, learnt a few stunts and developed a competitive streak a mile wide so that he doesn't like being overtaken by a kid 4 years older bursting his lungs to catch and pass him. I just hope I pick it all up as quickly.

BTW do you own one B.? If not, are you just a little bit recumbent curious? Are you not tempted as well?

What car have you got? You may find, it will go inside , if you strip it down, l can carry mine in my car without stripping down, but the car is a Nissan Elgrand.